we know that president obama and john boehner spoke by phone. republican sources telling us they had a conversation yesterday. we don't have a readout on what that was about. we don't know that if any meetings have been scheduled. but any small sign of progress is welcome here on capitol hill. now with so many lawmakers headed home and likely to face the ire of their constituents, we saw one protester in baltimore yesterday over social security. there are a few left. today there's a joint economic committee hearing. they're going to hear from a top economist not only about the jobs numbers coming out tomorrow but also about what can be done to avoid this issue at the end of the year. >> tracie potts for us in washington. thank you. >>> last night on the ed show, steny hoyer explains why he thinks the debt ceiling vote should be taken off the table. >> the debt ceiling is a phone y vote, frankly. and from time to time democrats have made it an item that they demagogue down and the republicans have demagogued on it, as well. the debt limit is a re